Ativan and panic attack

I have been taking lorazepam (generic for Ativan) for over a year. It helps me sleep and keeps me level from anxiety. I do find it difficult to sleep without it, but the reason I started is because I found it difficult to sleep. I don't crave it and or abuse it. I am very happy with it and at $6.00 for a 30 day supply, am grateful.

I have recently experience high bp that my doctor said was due to anxiety. He prescribed .5mg Ativan. It helped in the beginning but I have now noticed that in only 2 weeks I am having extreme anxiety when it wears off. Last night I woke out of a dead sleep in what the ER doctor said was a panic attack. He then gave me a double dose of Ativan in the ER. This sent my heart rate skyrocketing and caused a major panic attack in the hospital. I have never had these before I started Ativan. Has this happened to anyone? Now they put me on Valium to counteract the anxiety from Ativan. The ER doctor now thinks the high bp was from the new birth control pill I started. I think I am going to quit taking any meds.

I have panic attacks and irritable bowel. Ativan has been a life saver for me. It not only relaxes my stomach muscles so I can eat, it calms me also. One must be careful when taking ativan. It has been documented to be habit forming.

I Like Ativan - It levels me out and when I have panic attacks and can't sleep at night. It really takes the edge off.
by GLA

I am looking for something that will work for my panic attacks. I suffer from anxiety/panic disorder. I have been on soo many different medications and havent found anything that is working for me. can you help??